SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 228P

LINEAR

LINEAR follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.177 carries it from 3.43 AU at perihelion out to 4.907 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 445
Orbital Period · P
8.51 yr
v(q)
17.4 km/s
v(Q)
12.2 km/s
TJ
2.99
Eccentricity · e
0.1771

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.43 AU) and its farthest (4.907 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.477 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 8.51 yr (3,109 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 4.169 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.177 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 7.92° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 17.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 12.2 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.99, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

Neither a measured diameter nor a reliable absolute magnitude is available for LINEAR, so its physical size remains unconstrained.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 445 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.756 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 0 means the orbit is very well determined, leaving only a small uncertainty in the future ephemeris.

About these computed values

Orbital periods, perihelion and aphelion speeds, and diameter estimates on this page are computed by SpaceAtlas from the JPL SBDB orbital elements. They are derived quantities, not values copied from the source catalogue.

Orbital Parameters

Semi-Major Axis
4.169 AU
Eccentricity
0.1771
Perihelion
3.43 AU
Aphelion
4.90733 AU
Inclination
7.92°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2455744.5
Mean Anomaly
353.88°

Orbit diagram

The Sun sits at the focus (orange). Earth's orbit is the grey circle at 1 AU. The red dot marks the object's position at the catalog epoch.

3D orbit (interactive)

Drag to rotate; scroll or pinch to zoom. The Sun is at the focus (orange), Earth's orbit is the grey ring at 1 AU, and the red dot marks the object's current position.

Close approaches

No close approaches to Earth are currently on record for this object.

Physical Parameters

Diameter
— km
Albedo
—
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
—

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.75595
Condition
0
Orbit ID
—
Data source: NASA JPL Small-Body Database . Orbital periods, perihelion and aphelion speeds, and diameter estimates on this page are computed by SpaceAtlas from the JPL SBDB orbital elements. They are derived quantities, not values copied from the source catalogue.

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